Catholic Directive May Thwart End-Of-Life Wishes
A directive passed last November in Tulsa, Okla., raises fresh questions about the ability of patients to have their end-of-life treatment wishes honored – and whether and how a health care provider should comply with lawful requests not consistent with the provider’s religious views.
Why Are Fewer Patients Enrolling in Hospice?
It is not clear why it’s happening, but some hospice officials blame both a bad economy and Medicare rules that unintentionally discourage doctors from referring all but those who are about to die.
For Senior Care, Sometimes It Does Take A Village
Nearly three years ago, Harry Rosenberg and his wife, Barbara Filner, met with nine of their neighbors about starting an aging-in-place “village” in Bethesda, Maryland. The idea: If neighbors could help one another with basic services such as transportation and simple home maintenance and with friendly visits, people could stay in their homes longer as they aged.
Obama’s Respite Care Plan: Part of the Problem, Not a Solution
Families should be freed from the whims of politicians and the inevitable battles over government dollars by passing a national long-term care insurance program, such as the proposed CLASS Act.
How Does U.S. Long-Term Care Stack Up Against the Rest of the World?
There are two important lessons from the European experience with long-term care.
Why $75-A-Day Matters to Caregivers
Critics of the CLASS Act argue that $75-a-day is insufficient. But a new study shows that millions could benefit.
Caring For Elderly And Disabled Is A Family Affair
A new study says almost one out of three adults in the U.S. currently serves as a caregiver. The time and energy they put into caregiving becomes like an unpaid job.
The CLASS Act: A Flawed But Powerful Game-Changer for Long-Term Care
Pay attention to the CLASS Act. It can not only provide better long-term care for those who so desperately need this assistance, it can also become a new way to help those in need in an era of $1 trillion-plus budget deficits. But only if it is done right.
About 11 percent of people ages 60 and older suffer from some kind of abuse every year. But as a part of health care overhaul legislation, lawmakers are taking steps that would for the first time establish a federal beachhead in fighting such abuse.
Why A Little City In Wisconsin Is The Best Place To Die
Nearly all adults who die in La Crosse, Wisconsin, have filled out “advance directives” – explicit instructions on what treatments they do and don’t want at the end of life. The medical ethicist who started the program says “We believe it’s part of good patient care.”
Celebrating A Visionary On Healthy Aging
Dr. Gene Cohen, a geriatric psychiatrist who believed that old age can be a time of creativity, died this week.
We’ll never keep everyone at home. But if we work at it, we can postpone the transition for months or even years.
As Congress Moves To Cut Medicare Advantage Funding, Some Seniors Could Get Reprieve
The Senate Finance Committee calls for cuts in private Medicare plans to help pay for health reform. Some senators on the panel, worried about the 10.5 million seniors in the plans
A Forgotten Health Debate: Funding Long-term Care
Donna Taylor’s father planned ahead – he had insurance and savings to pay for health coverage when he retired. But when he got sick and couldn’t walk, he found he did not have enough coverage to pay for care for himself and his disabled wife.
Baby Boomer Retirement: The News Gets Worse
We are not ready for healthy retirement, and we are desperately unprepared for the costly medical and long-term care we are likely to need in old age.
In not too many years, long-term care nursing home beds may be as rare as Republicans in Massachusetts.
The Predicament of Near-Seniors And Health Reform
The differing interests and preferences of seniors and near-seniors reflect the perils of incremental reform in reaching universal coverage.
Will Long-Term Care Be Included In Health Reform?
The real challenge for long-term care reform remains indifference, rather than outright opposition.
Democrats Are Not The Real Threat To Medicare
A look at Republican efforts to drastically change Medicare in the 1990’s shows that the Democratic health reforms plans aren’t the real threat to the program.
Why Seniors are Health Reform Winners, Not Losers
In truth, seniors are likely to big winners if responsible health reform passes and prime victims if it fails.
